Europe’s policies and, in growing quarters, its very nature are being seriously challenged by its citizens. The new European Commission elected in 2014 will therefore, more than ever, be assessed on its capability to take the Union forward. Among many issues on the Commission agenda, those related to the regulation of network industries will have to be addressed in a particularly assertive though careful way.

This is so because, as citizens, we are also users and consumers of electricity, gas, heating, rail transport, electronic communications, media, postal and water services. Robust, reliable and transparent regulation systems and practices in those network industries are a necessary condition to affordable and adequate services in the short-, medium- and long-run. Therefore, effective and efficient regulation of network industries constitutes a visible and integral part of the good governance that citizens expect from public authorities at all levels and in particular from the Commission. Since the late 80’s, the latter has been at the spearhead of the liberalisation process. It has also initiated, laid the foundations and played a key part in the development of those industries’ regulation.

This is why the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE) has published the CERRE Regulation Dossier for the Incoming European Commission 2014-2018. This new CERRE contribution to the policy debate includes a set of original, sector-specific and cross-sector recommendations on future regulatory policy in network industries. It provides a critical view on some measures and policies which are in the pipeline or already implemented, on others which should be reconsidered or approached differently and, eventually, on new initiatives to be taken. It has been developed in full independence by a group of some 20 academics recognised among the best economists and lawyers in their respective disciplines and fields.